MEMORANDUM OF GRIEVANCES TO DE BEERS KIMBERLEY MINES

INTRODUCTION We, the members of the National Union of Mineworkers employed at KMD have decided to launch a protest and peaceful action in support of our grievances to the company and its management.

We are here today marching to raise our discontent and sadness to De Beers about the manner in which it has treated the employees.

It is our considered view that, despite the 20 years of democracy, the company is still living in the past and embracing white supremacy and regarding us (the employees) as mere tools of production.

This is the kind of behavior, treatment and attitude that the mighty NUM and our Mass Democratic Movement led by the ANC has fought against for over 300 years since the arrival of the settlers and the then colonizers from Europe.

You have arrogantly and mercilessly decided to sell us like animals which have NO say whatsoever in as far as our plight and future is concerned.

We stand here today to inform you that we are sick and tired of your Eurocentric cult of extracting our mineral and exploiting workers in their own country.

On the 16th of September 2014, De Beers Consolidated Mines announced to the media that Kimberley Mines will be looking into the following three options:

.Closure of the mine in 2018. Looking at other mining methods to extend the life beyond 2018. Selling the mine to a third party which can mine profitably beyond 2018

To our dismay, while we thought that you will engage us in meaningful consultation, you went on to sell the mine. It is therefore conspicuous that you as a company have decided and came to a conclusion of selling the mine a long time ago and only wanted to use us in formalizing your contemptuous actions.

We vow never to surrender and cheaply allow anybody to orchestrate a situation whereby Africans in their own country are given inferior status as it happened before.

We further pledge to fight with whatever it takes to ensure that those who are in the forefront of reversing the gains of our democratic dispensation are not accorded any opportunity to practice such evil deeds. NOT IN THIS COUNTRY AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN!

1. SECTIONS 197A & 197 BWe demand that the company MUST pay all employees their SEVERANCE packages and allow those who wish to continue with the new owners the choice to do so. This demand is necessitated by the fact that we were not consulted at all and this transaction is nothing BUT a conveyance to job losses.

2. FEAR OF JOB LOSSESWe are already noticing the changes in the operational structures at the mine and this is clearly a sign of looming retrenchment tomorrow.

We put on record that, PETRA is a non-starter, as the NUM we are in and out of the courts with PETRA since YOU sold the mines to them.

We further put on record that, EKAPA has NO track record at all - it is a very small operator which is known about union BASHING tactics. We therefore DO NOT want to fall prey of these experts of exploitation.

3. NONE COMPLIANCE- MPRDADe Beers has for a long time mined in this country and very notorious for leaving our communities more impoverished and our land with infamous and useless “GROOT GATTE” (BIG HOLES).

You have failed to implement your SLP commitments and there is absolutely NOTHING to tell in as far as the Cooperate Social Responsibility and NOW you WANT to carry us over to the WORST employer.

Social and Labour Plan- The company failed dismally to implement the SLP especially the issue of HOUSING and upward mobility as well as beneficiation.

4. SHARESWe further demand the payment of monies due to employees since 2014NOTING OUR CONCERNS AS TABLED, WE THEREFORE DEMAND AS FOLLOWS: That the company must suspend the sale of the mine and follow proper consultation process whereby the union would be accorded an opportunity to participate in meaningful discussions in an endeavor to reach a solution beneficial to all parties.

 We are not FOR SALE, we are NOT TOOLS, We are NOT going to BOW DOWN to YOU as if you are a GODDESS... ENOUGH IS ENOUGH We expect a positive response on all issues tabled as demands within 2 days